Robert P. Griffin Republican Robert P. Griffin Republican The 1972 United States Senate election in Michigan was held on November 7, 1972.

Senator and Senate Minority Whip Robert P. Griffin ran for re-election to a second term.

Griffin won reelection, defeating the Democratic nominee and Michigan Attorney General Frank J. Kelley by 6%.

Despite President Richard Nixon’s landslide victory in Michigan and the rest of the country, Griffin’s margin of victory decreased from the previous election.

As of 2025, this was the last time that the Republicans have won Michigan’s Class 2 Senate seat, as well as the last time that a Republican won re-election to either Senate seat in Michigan.